Learning Japanese Language and Culture with Manga (JPN2109.01)

Ikuko Yoshida

Japanese pop culture has gained popularity in the US, and many American children read Japanese manga and watch various Japanese animations while growing up. However, lack of Japanese cultural knowledge sometimes makes it hard for the American audience to fully understand what is going on in the Japanese character’s mind.

In this introductory Japanese language and culture course, students will practice linguistic skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) in Japanese as they also analyze how Japanese characters communicate and behave in various animation and manga. Students will also perform various situations to demonstrate their understanding of Japanese language and culture. Japanese writing systems—Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji —will be introduced.